Indian pipe
Monotropa uniflora

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows on other plants. It is white and fleshy. It grows 10-30 cm high. Stems are 1.5-2 mm thick. The leaves are small like scales. They are colourless. The flowers are white and waxy. They are 2 cm long. They occur singly. They droop at the end or pale white stems. The fruit is an erect capsule with many seeds.

There are 2 Monotropa species. Also put in the family Monotropaceae.

Where it is found

They grow in cool and temperate regions. It grows in damp deciduous and mixed forests between 100-1500 m altitude in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Central America, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, North America (country/location of origin), Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, South America, Taiwan, Tibet, USA

How it is used for food

It can be cooked and eaten. Caution: It contains oxalates and glycosides.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Hypopitys uniflora (L.) Crantz; Monotropa morisonii Pers.; and others